ITANAGAR, Apr 19: The Election Commission has expressed deep shock at the unfortunate
death of polling official Mathew Dabi, who went missing while on polling duty. He
was engaged in polling duty at Siine polling booth on April 9 last. His body was
recovered near the village on April 17 last. East Siang Deputy Commissioner has already
ordered a magisterial inquiry in the matter. The report of the post mortem conducted
at Pasighat General Hospital by a medical board today, is awaited, said a Nirvachan
Bhawan release.

Conveying its deepest sense of condolences to the bereaved family members, the Election
Commission has said that the ex-gratia payment to the families of the deceased polling
official will be paid as per provision soon, the release added.

Fire engulfs Seijosa forest

ITANAGAR, Apr 19: Devastating forest fire engulfed almost all the forest areas under
Seijosa circle of East Kameng district creating havoc in lower belt of the circle
since first week of this month.

The forest fire, which has already destroyed the forest areas in lower belt of Seijosa
circle, engulfed new areas under Pakke Tiger Reserve Buffer Zone and Papum Reserve,
said Ghora Aabhe Society.

The fire now engulfs some area of the upper portion of Seijosa forests, namely Mabuso-I,
A-2, Bali, A/I, Goloso top forests area.

Meanwhile, a team of nature lovers under the initiative of Takum Nabum, Chairman
Ghora Aabhe Society (Member State Wildlife Advisory Board Arunachal Pradesh) accompanied
by team of forest officials headed by Range Forest Officer, Seijosa Range (Territorial)
rushed to the forests fire area today and tried their level best to extinguish the
fire but with little success as the fire already engulfed 70 per cent of forest area
of Seijosa circle under Papum Reserve and Pakke Tiger Reserve Buffer area.

The Society said that the main reason for forest fire is the presence of large number
of labour in Pakke Tiger Reserve Buffer Zone and Papum Reserve for illegal timber
operation and Bamboo extraction.

The Society appeals to the Chief Secretary, higher authorities of forest department
to take immediate needful action to save the forests of the Seijosa circle and state
as a whole. State Government is getting incentive from central government in the
name of Green Bonus but ironically the Government fails to protect the greenery
of the state due to weak implementation of law and policies, the society said.

AHSCS refutes allegations

ITANAGAR, Apr 19: Refuting the allegations leveled by the state BJP against the INC
candidate of Thrizino-Buragaon constituency Kumsi Sidisow, All Hrusso (AKA) Socio-Cultural
Society (AHSCS) today strongly condemned the BJP and clarified that there was neither
any issue of security concerned in the area nor the INC candidate was responsible
for the recent incident.

The matter has been blown totally out of proportion and politicized by some vested
interest person(s), the Society claimed. Though some sporadic clashes between the
supporters of INC and BJP took place in the area, the statement issued by BJP state
unit was not true altogether, the Society added. The incident which took place in
the area was of personal rivalry, whereas, the BJP workers of area gave it a political
colour by portraying concocted stories and giving more flavor into it, it further
added.

Reiterating that the BJP workers unnecessarily trying to defame Kumsi Sidisow as
he has nothing to do with the incidents, AHSCS urged upon the people not to give
it communal or political colour as ‘the matters has been solved amicably.’

Zero vote in Sisen village

PASIGHAT, Apr 19: Polling process in East Siang District completed today with Zero
voting at Sisen village. East Siang DEO and SP personally visited the village/polling
station on Saturday to oversee the election process. The polling booth opened and
closed timely by the polling personnel but unfortunately, voters’ of the village
refused to cast their votes. The turn out was absolutely Zero through out the day.
DIPRO

Re-polling conducted peacefully

AALO, Apr 19: The re-polling concluded peacefully at four polling booths amid tight
security today with 82.15 per cent voters turn out. The female voters outnumbered
male with 848 against 786 male votes out of 1634 votes polled on the day. 3-Dasi
polling station topped the polling percentage with 85.58 per cent followed by Tabasora
82.73 per cent, Yigikaum 81.75 per cent and Nikte with 80.12 per cent. Meanwhile,
all the polling teams with EVMs have returned to the receiving centre at Aalo Town
Club with foolproof security. The polled EVMs have been placed in the Strong Room
and sealed in presence of political parties. DIPRO

Govt quarters gutted

SEPPA, Apr 19: Two Govt. quarters were gutted in a devastating fire around 1.25 am
today at Type-III colony Seppa. The cause of the fire couldn’t be ascertained but
the fire started from Kacha kitchen extension. The occupants of the two Type-III
Qtrs were Kapil Natung, JE, PWD and Nokup Sangyu, S.K of DFC & S department. All
the households’ items including local beads/Jewelleries worth rupees twenty lakhs
(approximately) have been burnt to ashes.

The damage could have been more and fire could engulf the surrounding quarters/house
if the fire and emergency service wouldn’t have rushed to the spot in time. DIPRO

Union asks police to arrest assailants

ITANAGAR, Apr 19: Condemning the alleged physical assault on one Nguri Kushal of
Kimin recently by a group of people in poll related violence, All Arunachal Pradesh
Public Health Engineering & Water Supply Department Workers Union today urged the
police authority to arrest the assailants at the earliest. The union said that stringent
action should be taken against the persons involved in the attack.

Lorrah records 92 pc turn out

SEPPA, Apr 19: The re-poll/fresh poll in 8 polling stations in East Kameng district
passed off peacefully today. Voters turn out at Lumdung was 38.74%, while it was
91.89% at Yakli. Dafri recorded 90.80% polling, Byale Sulung - 90.45%, Lorrah- 92.83%,
Lapung 88.62% and Jawa Camp 79.25%. Veo polling station polled percentage is yet
to come, polling teams reached back HQ and rest will report at station tomorrow.
DIPRO

NewsImpact

Re-poll has no effect on Sisen villagers

Staff Reporter

PASIGHAT, Apr 19: Though a polling station was setup in Sisen village under Pangin
(ST) Assembly constituency with all the necessary men and material for the conduction
of the simultaneous re-poll today, re-poll has no effect on the villagers of Sisen
as no one of the 140 voters in the village turned up to cast their votes. Earlier,
the villagers had boycotted the April 9 poll.

The unhappy villagers of Sisen, young and old alike, sent clear message to the polling
personnel wearing headbands with 'no road no vote' written on it. They are protesting
against lack of development in the area.

Sisen is situated at about one and half hour walk from the main road with only a
suspension bridge over Siang river that links the village to the main road.

Gaon Burah of the village T Nonang while maintaining that the decision is a unanimous
one added that the villagers have swore to continue with their movement till the
village is connected.

He said, "We will continue with our movement in the next election as well if we see
no result."

The bridge was damaged by the villagers on April 9 poll posing problem for the polling
team to reach the village however the same villagers welcomed the polling team this
time to carry out their duties though with no one voted.

"We don’t have hope in these leaders anymore. We would rather see them work out things
in practical rather than listening to all those promises which never comes true,"
he rued echoing similar concern as other fellow villagers.

"We are voting since 1977. We have voted for ruling. We have voted for opposition.
We did not see any result then. Now when we are tired, they say they will bring road.
This is plain mockery, we are confused," Nonang added.

70 pc voters turn out during re-poll in state

ITANAGAR, Apr 19: Over seventy percent voting was recorded during re-polling conducted
in 34 polling stations under eleven Assembly constituencies in East Kameng, Kurung
Kumey, Upper Subansiri, East Siang and West Siang districts in Arunachal amid tight
security today.

Massive security arrangements were made in each polling booth to avoid any untoward
incident and facilitate peaceful re-polling which started at 6 am and ended at 2
pm. There was no report of any untoward incident and the re-polling ended with peaceful
note, according to Nirvachan Bhawan sources.

Earlier on April 15, the Election Commission had ordered re-polling/fresh polling
in 34 polling stations where polling was suspended on April 9 last following damage
of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and other poll-related incidents.

Re-polling was conducted at 12 booths in remote Kurung Kumey district covering three
assembly constituencies of Palin, Tali and Koloriang while 8 polling stations under
Bameng, Chayantajo and Seppa West constituencies of East Kameng district was also
held.

In Upper Subansiri district, re-polling was held at 9 polling stations under three
constituencies namely Daporijo, Raga and Dumporijo, while in West Siang it was conducted
in 4 booths under Along West assembly constituency. Sissen polling station under
Panging assembly constituency in East Siang district reportedly recorded zero voting
in the re-polling as the villagers refrained from casting their votes in protest
against lack of development including better connectivity to the village despite
assurance from the district administration.

Mortal remains of poll official laid to rest

High-level enquiry demanded to unearth the truth

ITANAGAR, Apr 19: The mortal remains of Mathew Dabi, a poll official who went missing
on April 9 at Siine under Boleng circle was laid to rest this evening at his native
Namey village. He left behind his aged parents, wife and two young children. A native
of Namey village under Nari circle, Dabi was presently serving as Junior Teacher
at Adi-Tako.

Earlier, the district administration has handed the body to the family members after
conducting post mortem at Pasighat General Hospital by three teams of doctor.

The 43-year-old junior teacher Dabi was deputed as polling officer at Siine village
polling station under Boleng circle of 35- Pangin Assembly constituency. Police recovered
his body from a deep gorge near Siine village on April 17, eight days after he had
gone missing on the polling day on April nine.

Meanwhile, the family members of the Dabi have expressed dissatisfaction at the way
the search operation was conducted and has also questioned why no headway has been
made into investigation. They also wanted to know what steps are being taken to
compensate the family members of the deceased by the Election Commission of India.
The family claimed that Mathew was brutally murdered after kidnapping him by miscreants.
They said the circumstantial evidences depicted that it was a cold-blooded murder
to fulfill their poll related ill intension.

Fingers of suspicion have been pointed towards the Presiding Officer and the security
personnel deputed in the ominous poling booth. Victim’s family further alleged that
neither the presiding officer nor security personnel had ever felt it necessary to
inform the authority concerned regarding Dabi’s absence during the polling. The polling
officials reportedly completed all polling formalities in absence of Dabi.

The people of Nari including the members of Galo Student Union and Ramle Banggo Welfare
Society have demanded the authority to institute a high level inquiry into the mysterious
death and bring all the co-polling officials deputed at Siine polling booth to book
and interrogate them to unearth the facts behind the mysterious incident.

The family members of late Dabi also appealed to the East Siang Deputy Commissioner
cum DEO to institute SIT/CBI inquiry into the case and initiate compensation to victim’s
family.

Nyishi Day celebrated with pomp and gaiety

ITANAGAR, Apr 19: The Nyishi community across the state today celebrated its 7th
Nyishi Day with zeal and fervor as hundreds of community members from all walks of
life thronged at Nyikum Nyia Hall in Nyirubjoli here to commemorate the momentous
occasion.

The cultural event was jointly organized by Nyishi Elite Society, All Nyishi Students
Union, All Nyishi Youth Association and Nyishi Neyam Acham. To mark the occasion
various cultural programs were displayed including Rikam-Pada by the contingent which
had represented the state in Republic Day-2014, New-Delhi.

In his presidential address Nyishi Elite Society (NES) President Bengia Tolum briefed
how the community has succeeded in changing the derogatory term ‘Dafla’ to Nyishi
through a constitutional amendment in the Parliament on April 19, 2008. He urged
Nyishi brethrens that they must exhibit the age-old true fabric of straight-forwardness,
truthfulness in thought and action. NES president further informed that the state
government has agreed in principle to sanction for the establishment of Nyishi Heritage
Village, a Nyishi Arts & Culture Centre at Yazali.

Special invitee Y D Thongchi, Chief Information Commissioner, State Information Commission
dwelt on the importance Nyishi Arts and Culture and appealed to the younger generation
to shoulder the responsibility to carry forward it.

Dr Joram Begi, Director Higher and Technical Education in his address highlighted
the achievements of Nyishi Elite Society in the service of community in particular
and state as a whole. Professor Tana Showren Department of History, Rajiv Gandhi
University, Rono Hills highlighted on Nyishi civic life. Further the trio have released
collections of Nyishi Song titled TOLUM BEMIN, Volume-II, III and IV respectively;
composed and produced by Bengia Tolum.

General Secretary, NES, Tarh Tabin said that presence of special invitees Thongchi,
Dr Begi and Prof. Showren is a morale booster. Their activities in their respective
field of activities will surely inspire the younger people of the community, he added.

Earlier, the Artists of Tolum Bemin were also felicitated by the organizers during
the programme and President NES handed over Rs.1 lakh to Tadar Yadir, wife of Late
Tadar Tang, Chairperson, Tang Foundation Multipurpose Society (TFMS) as assistance
which was announced during Yazali Silver Jubilee Conference last year.

Talar returns home to hero’s welcome

Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR, Apr 19: Rising badminton star of the country Laa Talar was accorded a hero’s
welcome with tri-colour upon his arrival at Naharlagun helipad today after a brilliant
performance in the just concluded BWF Junior World Badminton Championship 2014 in
Malaysia.

Hundreds of fans, well-wishers, relatives and senior badminton players of the state,
led by Arunachal State Badminton Association (ASBA) Joint Secretary Bamang Tago and
Students’ Union Movement of Arunachal (SUMA) president Biri Tabing, lined up at helipad
to greet Talar at 2 pm. The fans accompanied Talar, aboard an open-top Gypsy, in
a celebratory parade that passed through the main thoroughfare of Naharlagun and
Itanagar Township chanting slogan “Bharat mata ki Jai”.

Talar (India’s No 3) participating in Men’s Singles reached the fourth round in the
World Championship. He defeated Cheezwa Nakanda of Zambia 21-14, 21-07 in the first
round, David Peng of Germany 21-19, 21-12 in the second round and tamed Gui Pu Lin
of China 21-09, 21-07 in the third round before going down fighting 15-21, 21-11,
21-23 to Hong Kong’s Cheuk Yiu Lee (World No. 6) in the pre-quarterfinal in 58 minutes,
informed Tago while briefing the Talar’s performance. It is pertaining to mention
here that India’s No. 1 Harsheel Dani and number two Aditya Joshi could not live
up to their reputation and crashed out in second and third round respectively.

Expressing his immense pleasure and satisfaction with Talar’s performance in the
World Cup, Tago advised him to work hard and concentrate more on playing the game
to master it. Informing that Talar was the first from the North East to represent
the country at Junior World Badminton Championship, Tago hoped his impressive performance
will inspire many a budding players of the state to take up games and sports professionally.

Highlighting the various initiatives of the state government for development of games
and sports, including job reservation for meritorious sportspersons and incentives,
Tago asked the players to grab the opportunity by taking up sports seriously.

Sharing the proud moment, SUMA president Tabing said that Talar is still young but
his scintillating performance has brought him praise from all. He asked the budding
players to draw inspiration from the rising star.

Talar’s father La Ribe also spoke on the occasion and briefed the gathering about
Talar’s achievement till today and hardship faced by him in grooming his son.

Meanwhile, Talar told this reporter that his immediate and ultimate goal is to grab
the national number one ranking and play in Olympics for the country.